The church’s path forward

By Nicole Perone|
Catholic News Service

8/29/18

"Youth is an original and exciting stage in life, that
Christ himself went through, sanctifying it with his presence." The
working document of the Synod of Bishops on "Young people, faith and
vocational discernment" begins the process of interpreting the situation
of young people today with this observation.

The presynod gathering, of which I was blessed to be a part, was
something I consider historic. Like the online questionnaire, it provided a
platform for young people to be honest and hopeful about their needs and the
ways the church can be their home.

When reading the working document, I had to pause to marvel at
that sentence. What an awe-inspiring concept: that the almighty God chose to
enter into our humanity as a young person, whose ministry culminated during
what is now termed "young adulthood."

In a chapter of life that is so tumultuous with growth and
change, that sentence struck me as the ultimate comfort for a young person: Our
Lord knows these challenges and joys as intimately as we do.

The truth is, those challenges are stronger than ever.

There are so many undercurrents of evil that reverberate in our
world: war, violence, abuse, addiction, religious persecution, lack of respect
for the sanctity of life, crises of leadership, illness, inequalities of
gender, race, socioeconomic status and religion, and so much more that varies
throughout the myriad of cultures and situations across the globe.

These tempests can rock the worlds of young people, fostering in
them anxiety and uncertainty.

Thankfully, we have a Savior who walks on water and calms storms.
This stage of life is the most crucial of times to come to know, love and serve
him and his church. The church has a responsibility to serve as a refuge for
young people in a world that presents so many disruptions to their peace.

For many young people, their experience in the church is one that
fosters stability and peace; however, like anything living and breathing, the
church must continue to grow in her mission of bringing Christ's life and peace
to the world.

It is my fervent prayer that the synod fathers will respond with
openness and enthusiasm to the concerns of young people that were raised.
However, the presynod document is simply one contribution of many (from Vatican
documents to papal remarks to online questionnaire responses) that will foster
the discussion at the synod. While the working document is informative and
directional, it is the synod fathers who must forge the path forward for the
church.

That path cannot be walked alone. Young people around the world
have been clear that they are not content to be passive recipients of what the
church offers, but rather protagonists of their own faith journeys and deeply
invested in the life of the church.

What better opportunity to ensure future generations of committed
young people giving of their gifts faithfully than to begin collaboratively
empowering the laity to step up, not facing challenges outside of the church
but alongside her?

In this moment, the church is at a crossroads: This synod has the
opportunity to be more than a platitude — a deeply transformational moment for
the church and the world in which she operates.

It is comforting to remember that the church has a rich and
heroic history of being unafraid to go toe-to-toe with concerns that the people
of God face. This knowledge is what girds us in hope that the church we love,
by reaching out to young people through this process, will not only survive but
thrive.

Young people know this crossroads well, as it is a hallmark of
this moment in life. Once, while in a moment of great discernment so typical of
young adulthood, I sought counsel from a beloved priest whose wisdom was
simple: "The Holy Spirit would not take you this far to abandon you."
And so it is with the church we love.

Perone is director of adult faith formation for the
Archdiocese of Hartford, Conn. She is a guest columnist for the Catholic News
Service series "In Light of Faith."